Think Pink: Visit Pink Taco at the Hard Rock

By: Bob Gourley

The color pink has been associated with everything from jeep tour companies to breast cancer. But tacos are not usually something you would associate with it.

Pink Taco at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is not only a festive place to enjoy one of the country’s favorite foods, but the raucous atmosphere will put you in the mood to party hearty. In fact, if you are taking a dip in the pool area, all that you need to do is walk in, order some grub and enjoy it poolside.

Yes, they really do have pink tacos. Corn tortillas have a distinctive hue and they are a part of the house specialty with black beans, grilled chicken, salsa arbol, pickled onions and avocado.

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Other street tacos include Al Pastor with a generous helping of rotisserie pork and roasted pineapple salsa. A crispy shrimp edition is full of red cabbage slaw, chipotle crema and avocado. Vegans will want to chow down on the Garden with roasted chayote, avocado, mushrooms and cotija.
There is much more than just tacos to keep diners interested. The burrito fare is intriguing including the Ultimate Burrito Challenge.

This ode to gluttony features over three pounds of pulled chicken, pork, refried beans, rice, queso blend guacamole, creama, pico de gallo and lettuce. Diners who consume the whole thing in 20 minutes or less receive a prize.

Grilled skirt steak is the main ingredient of their version of Carne Asada. A cheese enchilada and roasted tomatillo sauce are also included.

Seafood is represented with Pescado Veracruz. Red snapper is prepared in a stew-like fish broth that is also accompanied by capers, olives and rice.

Baby-back pork ribs are cooked in honey-chipotle BBQ sauce. Also on the plate are street corn and borracho beans.

An attractive brunch menu incorporates the best entrees of the genre. Chilaquiles, a dish that is showing up on more menus everywhere, is a collection of pan-fried corn chips, scrambled eggs, queso, salsa roja and black beans.

You can have eggs your way with Huevos Rancheros. On the side are black beans.

Tacos are represented with Breakfast Tacos. The tortillas are stuffed with scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, avocado and chile-lime cucumber.

Lunch specials abound all priced at $9.99. There is an expansive Taco Salad with romaine, roasted peppers, onions, frijoles, avocado, sour cream and more. A fajita bowl is filled with a choice of veggies, chicken or beef topped with lettuce, sour cream and pico de gallo.

Happy Hour is celebrated weekdays from 3:00 to 7:00 pm with $6 cocktails and a special menu. Machaca Deviled Eggs are a spicy affair with shredded beef and achiote.

Flautas are made with shredded pork and guacamole. Turkey Abondigas (meatballs) are delivered with rice and tomato salsa. Ceviche is a great grazing dish and this version has a variety of marinated seafood plus pico de gallo and tortilla chips.

A party-like atmosphere, spirited drinks and cuisine that fits. Pink Taco is the place.

Pink Taco, open every day for lunch and dinner, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. (702) 693-5525. www.hardrockhotel.com.